The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-03-25
A Life for a Letter.
THE SAVING POWER OF \ MOTHER
L0VE-MERCY CONQUERS JUSTICE.

| d NdlIlOIIlld arrest. tTldl, cOHN NclNIl. dI)-
peal and reversal Of verdict. or rath-
er verdict set aside.
\ man had robbed Il coach running
between Stockton and Sonora. conceal
ed the money, all he could carry, about
his person, sought lodgings not so far
away. and in the night had risen, sto
len horse, and struck Il Decline across
the country toward station where he
could get quick transportation to San
Francisco, intending to start for home
by steamer. He belonged in Arkansas.
In the morning the horse and rider
were missed. A party started i'll pur-
suit, and in twenty-four hours had his
horse broken down and him coralled.--
He saw his game was up and coolly
waited the result. The party over
hauled him at dawn.
'Good- stranger
.'Good-morn.'
:'Seen anything of il man about your
size straddle sorrel mare, lookin a
heap like the one You ride
NO, | haven't"
''That's purity good mare o yourn.
"Yes, she's worth cool five hundred,
but she's little winded now say, mis-
ter, I'll give You five hundred clean
boot for that one o yourn, and stop the
deal"
He was making cool bluff, and al
though he knew he was recognized, his
offer would pay well for the broken
down horse, and he hoped that his mon
ey would save him. He counted with
out his host.
'.That's Il straight blind o yourn.
pard, and it strains us to come in, but
we're thar, and hold you over. You
look little played out, as well as the
mare. If You jest git down and join
our party it'll stretch your legs, and
maybe you need stretching all over.
He blanched trife, but obeyed in
dogged silence. The pursuers all dis
mounted, and the spokesman approach
ing, threw over his head moose, and
passing the other end of the rope over
the limb of tree. that overshadowed
them, called the other members of the
party around him. The culprit stood
erect; not muscle quivered.
Now, pard, is everything all right :
Does it fit your neck according to
Hoyle:'
:.Have you got anything to say why
this little picnic shouldn't proceed" :"
| :'Nothin'."
"Haye Yer got any word to leave ter
yer friends: If You have, make it
short. for we've got to break camp in
side of ten minutes
The stranger raised his eyes from the
ground for the first time and looked
his self-appointed judge and execution
er straight in the eye for moment,
| and then drawing from his pocket a
crumpled letter. spoke with a slight
tremor of voice:
perhaps YOU are Il better scholar
than l be. If you will Just read that
and be kind enough to answer it. Iii
tell you what to say
The executioner had already passed
the rope to his comrades, and they had
| drawn it taut. He took the letter, and
as the party stood around him ready
to run up the culprit at the first sig
nal. he opened it and read aloud:
"B--, Ark, Jan. 10, 1S--
my Dear Son James-For long,
weary days l have waited for news from
you since Your last kind letter to Your
old mother. God bless You, James, and
answer my prayer that this letter may
reach you, thanking you for your ever
thoughtful care of me in my old age.
| received the money, and it kept me
from sore need. But once more. to look
in your face and feel that You were near
me would cheer my old heart more
than to possess all the gold in Califor
mia. When are YOU coming home
You promised me in the spring You
would come back to me. May God
prosper YOU and return my dear boy
to my arms before | die. From your
loving mother,-.
He began the letter in strong,
clear voice, but before the closing words
the reading was hardly audible, and
tears stood in the eyes of the rough
men who listened to its contents. The
rope had slacken2d until it dropped
from the hands of his comrades. ST.
lence for few minutes, then. reverent-
lv folding the soiled letter. the reader
passed it to its owner, and without
word slipped the moose from his neck.
In tones as gentle rs a mothers he ask
ed.
Were YOU going home. stranger :"
Yes.
''Good-by.
The stranger dared not trust his
voice in thanks, but drew from his belt
small bag of twenties and offered it
to the leader
"Hoss.
No: take her. and goodbye"
lie mounted the mare and slowly
moved away. while the party watched
him ont of sight. then turned and 81.
Iently retraced their steps to camp.
The court WAS adiourned.-.Sm Fran
cisco Alto.